&friends

Afro house rhythms meet uplifting vocals and live percussion.

Led by San Diego native and Dubai resident Sean Thomas, &friends operates as a collaborative Afro house project that merges electronic production with traditional diasporic rhythms. The collective frequently features Nigerian vocalists Oluwadamvic, Phina Asa, and eL Jay alongside Zimbabwean producer Nitefreak, blending deep house grooves with uplifting vocal narratives and live percussion. Following their 2022 debut single "Gbagbe E" on their independent imprint Hidden Hands, the group gained international traction with the Nitefreak remix of "Ode Ireti" and a 2023 Afro house cover of Armin van Buuren's "This Is What It Feels Like" via Armada Music. Recent years have seen the project expand its global footprint with official remixes for Sofi Tukker and Bob Sinclar, alongside major performances at the Coachella DoLaB stage, Burning Man, and Bonbonniere in Tulum. By anchoring their output in cultural exchange and live instrumentation, &friends grounds the modern Afro house movement in collaborative, global artistry.